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Coffee and Conflict: Veteran Antiwar Activity and G.I. Coffeehouses in the Vietnam Era

Walls, Harley Elisabeth Noelle
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0044-9468
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami165089903385521

Abstract Details

2022, Master of Arts, Miami University, History.
During the Vietnam Era (1960-1975), the United States underwent significant social change. While American troops were fighting alongside the South Vietnamese against Ho Chi Minh, his North Vietnamese troops, and their pursuit of spreading Communist ideology in Southeast Asia, the American government was also pursuing Communism and antigovernment activity stateside. The main target of the government’s suspicion were the G.I. coffeehouses and underground presses utilized by G.I.s who were motivated by their experiences in conflict to join the antiwar movement. The coffeehouses and their associated newspapers sought to provide resources for G.I. and veteran support (legal and otherwise), coffee and other café provisions, and a safe space to connect with other G.I.s to discuss their antiwar sentiments, plan protest activity, and disperse their ideas to those outside the confines of their respective bases. Through thorough research and discussion of chosen coffeehouses and underground newspapers, it is clear that these places and resources provided safer outlets for antiwar sentiment, not antigovernment sentiment. The coffeehouses and newspapers instead mediated safe expression and freedom of speech rather than proposed ways to create an organized threat to the U.S. government and its military complex.
Steve Conn (Advisor)
Andrew Offenburger (Committee Member)
Amanda McVety (Committee Member)
54 p.
American History; History; Military History; Military Studies; Political Science
Vietnam War; Vietnam Veterans; Antiwar Movement; G.I. Coffeehouses; Underground Presses; G.I. Presses; Veteran Protests; The Shelter Half; The Oleo Strut; The UFO; Iraq Veterans Against the War; IVAW; Communism; Antigovernment protests; Vietnam

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Walls, H. E. N. (2022). Coffee and Conflict: Veteran Antiwar Activity and G.I. Coffeehouses in the Vietnam Era [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami165089903385521

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Walls, Harley. Coffee and Conflict: Veteran Antiwar Activity and G.I. Coffeehouses in the Vietnam Era. 2022. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami165089903385521.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Walls, Harley. "Coffee and Conflict: Veteran Antiwar Activity and G.I. Coffeehouses in the Vietnam Era." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami165089903385521

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami165089903385521
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This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.